Koval was named to the position by the city’s Police and Fire Commission on Friday. He was one of two internal candidates who became finalists. Koval was chosen over Capt. Carl Gloede.

The commission said a field of 20 candidates was whittled to 10 and then six before settling on the two finalists.

Koval’s hiring follows the retirement of chief Noble Wray at the end of September. Wray was with the department 29 years and chief for nine of those years. Assistant chief Randy Gaber was promoted to interim chief during the search for a new police chief.

Sgt. Mike Koval has been a Madison officer since 1983, was a West HS and UW grad. He's a former FBI agent, hostage negotiator and chief candidate in 2004 when Wray was chosen. He's trained hundreds of officers as the department's personnel and training recruiter.

Koval said he want's to change the way people perceive police.

"I think unfortunately through the media sound bytes and the television and movies and things, we've seen officers more often depicted as a tactical warrior," Koval said.

"While there is an essence of officer safety on every call we go on so much of what we do embodies a lot more things like professional communications and negotiation and building empathy and rapport."

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